Dear All

It was such a huge privilege to be at the launch of the Edinburgh International Festival in Craigmillar – and where better where Helen Crummy started a social movement when her son was first denied violin lessons.  Castlebrae Community High School Craigmillar and EIF have enjoyed a very fruitful partnership form which both have benefited hugely, as Director Fergus Lenihan told us. The youngsters tell us when we’re getting things wrong; they don’t hang back!  The Festival is for them and for Edinburgh people, as much as for anyone else! 

More here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/blog/newsblog/post/1155/castlebrae-high-school-hold-their-own-festival-launch

Colleagues – both officers and all Councillors – might tell you I have been on a bit of a mission with the City of Edinburgh Council, particularly over the last five years, to expunge the word ‘customer’ from the lexicon of the Council and its partners and substitute ‘citizen’.  We are getting here – slowly – so it was great to see my own mission and the thinking behind it so well expressed in Positive News:  https://www.positive.news/2017/society/26310/the-age-of-the-citizen-is-coming/ 

The Notice of Poll has been published for the City of Edinburgh and only those persons who are registered to vote in the relevant ward and aged 16 or over on the day of the poll will be eligible to vote. This is the first that time, that 16/17 year olds will be able to vote in local government elections, so it is very important they all know that they have a say and every vote really does matter. EU citizens also have the right to vote in local elections.

Ward 17: Portobello/Craigmillar (4 councillors to be elected) 

BRIDGMAN, Mike – Scottish National Party (SNP)
CAMPBELL, Kate – Scottish National Party (SNP)
CAMPBELL, Mary – Scottish Green Party
CHILD, Maureen – Scottish Labour Party
LAIDLAW, Callum – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
LESLIE, Callum – Scottish Liberal Democrats
WALKER, David – Scottish Labour Party

Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council and Returning Officer for Edinburgh, said: "If you haven’t yet registered to vote in these Local Government Elections, it’s not too late – go to yourvotematters.co.uk and find out everything you need to know. The deadline for registration is 17 April. "Remember that due to ward boundary changes, you might have a different polling place this time. Check your polling card carefully or use the online tool to find out where to vote on 4 May "  Find out more on where and how to vote here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/elections

While I was out knocking on doors one day last week near Duddingston Road, it was great to hear “Hey Maureen!” and see two familiar faces from Craigmillar Boxing Club – Jason Easson and Kenny McCartney working hard on a roof top, doing the day job. So that’s what they get up to when they’re not training or boxing!  More about these two wonderful people that I see most Mondays when I’m at Sandy’s Community Centre in Craigmillar, where Jason started his career and Kenny trains more young boxers at all ages and stages.  The story of their great sporting partnership is here in the Evening News last week:   http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/boxing/why-boxer-jason-easton-s-bond-with-trainer-will-never-be-broken-1-4404763

One of the big issues around Duddingston Road, of course, is the demolition of Portobello High School tower block. 

The new Lothian Buses timetables have now been published and can be found with links to each bus and route detail here:  https://lothianbuses.co.uk/news/article/service-changes-from-23-april

Police Scotland are doing a big campaign to combat hate crime.  More on this link: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTep2CG_8Q_AcAB0_gAYQF16airax6QGL

The Policing 2026 Strategy is open for consultation and Police Scotland are encouraging as many people as possible to take part before the consultation closes on 8 May 2017.  The ‘Policing 2026’ strategy outlines how Police Scotland aim to address new and changing policing demands and work more effectively with partners and the public to deliver better outcomes for individuals and communities. You can take part here:

http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/policing-2026/take-part-in-the-conversation and read the draft strategy here: http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/policing-2026/  Demands on policing are increasingly focused towards addressing vulnerability and the consequences of inequalities. Scotland’s communities continue to diversify and grow, and the needs of people in society are changing. We expect people will live longer and the average age of the population will rise. Mental health issues will be more common, as will isolation through living alone particularly for elderly women and young men. Policing must evolve and we must continue to design our services around citizen and community needs with a focus on prevention and protection in the public, private and virtual space. The strategy is currently in draft and Police Scotland are seeking your views and input to help inform and shape the final strategy prior to publication before the summer.

There is a public consultation from Scottish Government on pavement parking, which is a really big issue in some of streets where vulnerable pedestrians are pushed out into the road by inconsiderate parking. Click here: http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1719&ea.campaign.id=58863&ea.url.id=890510&forwarded=true

Date for your diary – the community run Joppa Tennis Courts are having their open day on Sunday 7 May 1.30-5pm.

Do you play golf? Maybe you’re thinking of taking it up?  New members at Portobello Golf Club are always welcome and the club caters for all levels of ability, gender and age. Portobello Golf Course, next to the new High School, enjoys Jubilee Field status and provides a 9 hole golf course that is ideally suited to beginners, juniors and seniors, but still provides a challenge for better players and it takes a good round to make par. The signature hole, the 9th would not be out of place at more renowned courses. Club membership fees for 2017/2018 (Apr-Mar) are £40 (£30 concessions) which includes; SGU membership, qualification for national handicap certificate, regular weekend and mid-week 18 hole medals plus ad-hoc fun competitions throughout the whole year.  Green fees are not included but can be paid on the day or with an Edinburgh Leisure Golf Season Ticket.

There are an amazing FOUR local entries in the RIAS Architecture Awards Shortlist for 2017. Portobello High School (jmarchitects), Rosefield Home Studio (Chambers McMillan), Edinburgh Road, Musselburgh (A449 LTD) and Thistle Foundation Centre in Craigmillar (3DReid). The winners will be announced on 10 June. Good luck to them all!

Thanks to everyone who had a chance to vote in the ‘Save Bellfield’ Action Porty ballot and did so on behalf of the wider community who will benefit if the community buy-out goes ahead  Fingers crossed we got enough votes to satisfy Scottish Government that it should go to the next stage.  I am told the result will be known on Thursday this week.

I hope you enjoy a bit of a break over Easter with family and friends….. I’m not sure I will!

Best wishes

Maureen